The Effects of Knee Pain on the Quadriceps Strength, Proprioception and Balance in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee pain on the quadriceps strength, proprioception and balance in subjects with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and the correlation between muscle strength, proprioception, and balance in knee osteoarthritis patients with knee pain. The inclusion criteria were symptomatic and radiographic bilateral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2), visual analogue scale difference of the both knees ≥2. Thirty three participants (32 women, 1 men: mean age, 59.18 years) underwent assessment of maximal voluntary contraction of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, knee proprioceptive acuity (measure passive joint reposition sense) and balance index using Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer and Biodex balance System. In this study, the more pain knee had weaker quadriceps strength than less pain knee (p 0.05). Poor proprioception was associated with low quadriceps strength and poor Medio-lateral Stability Index (p<0.05). Future studies needed to account the influence of pain on neuromuscular factors as well as attempt to further clarify the relationships between these factors.